Duke and Robert Morris might share few basketball similarities. But with Friday night’s game in Rupp Arena, Robert Morris joins Duke as part of this Kentucky team’s learning process.
Among the lessons UK hopes were learned from the opening-game loss to Duke include maintaining the competitive intensity, the importance of shooting free throws, freshman TyTy Washington experiencing being the focus of an opponent’s game plan and all freshmen experiencing a higher level of preparation.
So said James “Bruiser” Flint, the associate to the head coach on UK’s staff.
“We need to fight the way we did in that game,” Flint said Thursday. “We need to play that way. . . . As long as you don’t worry about (effort), you can coach the other things. You never want to have to coach effort, and we didn’t worry about that. The other things we can clear up and get better at.”
Flint noted the disparity in free throw attempts. Duke made 16 of 23, while Kentucky shot only seven and made six.
“I think we need to get to the line a little bit more . . . ,“ Flint said of the 79-71 loss to Duke. “I think that was a big part of the game.”
Washington, who is expected to be a leading light for Kentucky this season, made only three of 14 shots and scored nine points.
“He forced it a little bit, but I think he’ll be fine,” Flint said. “He learned a little bit about the physicality of the game. He was the main focus (of Duke’s scouting report). You could tell. He got to understand that’s how people are going to play him all year. Freshmen have to learn it.”
It happens
Duke blocked three of Sahvir Wheeler’s shots taken off drives. Two came at a critical time: shortly after Kentucky scored 11 straight points to close within 69-65.
“All I said all week (was) if you drive, just don’t get it blocked,” UK Coach John Calipari said in the postgame news conference.
When asked about the blocks, Flint said, “it happens when you’re little.”
Wheeler’s height is listed at 5-foot-9.
“You’ve got to give the opponent credit, too . . . ,” Flint said of Duke. “If you don’t think he’s going to get his shots blocked when he’s that small, you’re crazy.”
Flint echoed Calipari’s call for shooting the ball higher off the backboard.
“We want him to keep that aggression, though,” Flint said. “He’ll learn.
“Cal talks about throwing the ball off the backboard. But you’re not used to playing that way. . . But he’ll get used to it. He’ll see the benefit of what Coach (Calipari) talks about, which is sometimes throw it off (the backboard) and let the (big) guy go rebound it.”
20 rebounds a game?
Oscar Tshiebwe’s 19 rebounds against Duke seemingly fell one shy of his stated goal of averaging 20 per game this season. That was until Thursday, when UK announced a correction to the Champions Classic official statistics.
TyTy Washington was incorrectly awarded a rebound at the 13:00 mark of the first half that should have been credited to Kentucky’s big man. The correction moved Tshiebwe’s total to 20 rebounds, his stated goal.
When asked if that was a realistic goal, Flint said, “He’s not Wilt Chamberlain. But I think he can be a guy who’s definitely in the top three or four rebounders in the country. . . . He can definitely do double digits a game without a doubt.”
Flint called Tshiebwe “a tracker,” meaning the player rebounds balls out of his immediate area.
Tshiebwe’s 20 rebounds set a Champions Classic record, was the most by a UK player in his debut and the most by a Wildcat in the John Calipari era. The last UK player to have 20 rebounds in a game was Jared Prickett against Arkansas on Feb. 9, 1994.
Toppin stoppin’
Jacob Toppin better contained Duke freshman star Paolo Banchero after replacing Keion Brooks as the defender. Without using the exact words, Flint spoke of Toppin being a defensive stopper.
“I think Jacob Toppin can be the best defensive player in the SEC,” Flint said, “because he can (defend) all five positions, if he wants to.”
Wake-up call
In various preseason magazines, Robert Morris is picked to finish ninth (Blue Ribbon, Lindy’s) and 12th (Athlon) in the 12-team Horizon League.
The Colonials have nine newcomers, seven of which came via the transfer portal.
“We’ve got to try to microwave connectivity and understanding and terminology,” Coach Andy Toole said.
Toole referred to the game at Kentucky as “a great wake-up call for some of our guys.”
In that vein, the game would be a “reminder of how difficult it is to be successful on the Division I level.” he said.
Angst
Robert Morris plays its first three games — and six of the first seven — on the road. This stretch to begin the season began Wednesday with a 69-59 loss at Central Florida.
“The early schedule is certainly challenging,” Toole said. “That just adds to the angst.”
Robert Morris had a 4-15 record last season. The Colonials lost 12 of their final 13 games. Four of the losses came in overtime games.
Etc.
▪ CJ Fredrick continues to prepare for a belated debut caused by a leg injury. Flint said that he wasn’t sure if the transfer from Iowa could play against Robert Morris.
▪ Mike Morgan and Daymeon Fishback will call the game for the SEC Network.
Friday
Robert Morris at No. 10 Kentucky
When: 7 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Robert Morris 0-1, Kentucky 0-1
Series: Kentucky leads 2-1.
Last meeting: Kentucky won 87-49 on Nov. 17, 2013, in Lexington.